It was just about a year ago that another Jake, Jake Ryan tore his ACL in spring practice. Shortly after, backup QB Russell Bellomy tore his ACL. Last September, Drake Johnson tore his ACL. About a month later, Ondre Pipkins tore his ACL. A year earlier, Blake Countess tore his ACL in the season opener against Alabama.
If I'm a Michigan Football player with two intact ACL's, I'm walking very carefully to class these days.
The only upside to this is the fact that Jake Ryan tore his ACL last March and was able to return, albeit in less than his normal form, to the field by mid-October. That was an incredibly fast comeback from an ACL tear, and maybe shouldn't be the timetable we should get used to, but it's worth noting.
How this effects the offense? Well, if Nussmeier values the TE a lot, it will have a big impact. Funchess is, by design a tight end...but he also moonlights as a wide receiver – a pretty good one. This injury could impact that.
AJ Williams, Jordan Paskorz and Khalid Hill will like battle it out this spring for playing time. Incoming freshman Ian Bunting could also be in the mix when he arrives this summer.
Another option, as pointed out by @MaizeBlueNews, could see RB/FB Wyatt Shallman make a transition to the tight end spot given that fullbacks will probably not play a prominent role in the Nussmeier offense and he's already buried on the depth chart there anyway.
Another option, as pointed out by @MaizeBlueNews, could see RB/FB Wyatt Shallman make a transition to the tight end spot given that fullbacks will probably not play a prominent role in the Nussmeier offense and he's already buried on the depth chart there anyway.
UM press release...
Michigan Tight End Jake Butt Out Indefinitely with Torn ACL
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan football rising sophomore tight end Jake Butt (Columbus, Ohio/Pickerington North) is out indefinitely with a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in winter conditioning, the team announced today (Thursday, February 13).
Butt finished his freshman campaign with 20 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns, third on the Wolverines in each category. Butt had a season-best five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown against Ohio State.
"Jake's done a tremendous job since he's been here," said Michigan football head coach Brady Hoke. "He's worked extremely hard and gained a lot of weight to become the complete tight end he wants to be. I think he showed flashes of that towards the end of last season. This is a tough break, but because of his work ethic and attitude, the kind of young man he is, we know he will be back as soon as he can and as strong as ever."
Let's just hope 2014's torn ACL count doesn't rival that of last years'.
